Compiz

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Compiz
Compiz logo
Image:XglCompizCube.png
Screenshot showing Xgl/Compiz running on SUSE Linux
Developer: David Reveman, Matthias Hopf, Dave Arlie, Adam Jackson, Jon Smirl
Latest release: 0.3.6 / December 31, 2006
OS: Unix-like
Use: Compositing manager
License: MIT License
Website: www.go-compiz.org

Compiz is one of the first compositing window managers for the X Window System that is able to take advantage of OpenGL-acceleration. The integration allows it to perform compositing effects in window management, such as a minimization effect and a cube workspace. Compiz conforms to the ICCCM standard and as such can substitute for the default Metacity in GNOME or KWin in KDE. Compiz brings some of the features found in competitors, such as Exposé in Apple's Mac OS X and a new Alt-Tab application-switcher, similar to the one found in Microsoft's Windows Vista. Compiz is built on the Composite extension to X and the GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap extension to OpenGL. Compiz was released by Novell in January 2006 in the wake of a new Xgl version.

Initially Compiz only functioned on the types of hardware well supported by Xgl. Most NVIDIA and ATI graphics cards are known to work with Compiz on Xgl, although bugs both in Xgl and Compiz still remain as both systems are essentially brand new, and are still in heavy development. As of May 22, 2006 Compiz works with modifications on the standard X.Org server, with AIGLX enabled. With AIGLX, Intel cards can also be used with Compiz, including mobile cards.

NVIDIA's binary-drivers (since Version 1.0-9629) support GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap on standard X.Org server (see Hardware Requirements).

Recently, discussions between Beryl and Compiz have lead to an agreement to merge the two projects. The merged project will likely have a new name, still undecided. [1] [2] [3]


Contents

  • translucency, dimming, desaturation

Compiz using "Glass" windows borders, imitating the Windows Vista Aero Glass interface.
Compiz using "Glass" windows borders, imitating the Windows Vista Aero Glass interface.
  • Annotate: draw things on top of all windows
  • Clone: duplicate output on two screens
  • Cube: each virtual desktop becomes a face on a cube
  • Decoration: a plugin to communicate decoration settings to a decorator
  • Fade: windows fade in and out
  • Gconf: settings come from GNOME
  • Inotify: an inotify plugin which allows plugin developers to easily access inotify. It is currently used to notify settings programs when new plugins are added to the plugins directory.
  • Minimize: windows minimize (and maximize) with an animation effect
  • Move: window moving
  • Place: placement of new windows
  • Png: allows plugin developers to load png files as textures without worrying about the image format.
  • Resize: window resizing
  • Rotate: the desktop cube can be rotated
  • Scale: an overview of all open windows (similar to Mac OS X's Exposé)
  • Svg: allows plugin developers to load svg files as textures. Other image plugins can be added so that extra image types will be seamlessly supported.
  • Switcher: active window can be chosen with Alt-Tab
  • Water: ripples trailing mouse and rain effect
  • Wobbly: windows ripple while they move
  • Zoom: magnifies a part of screen

  • Animation: animation effects for window events
  • Benchmark: plugin to gauge performance
  • Bs: brightness and saturation control
  • Crashhandler: crash handling through gdb and recovery
  • Dbus: dbus interfacing
  • Negative: inverts color of a window or screen
  • Put: moves windows using key binds
  • Reflection: watermarks window decorations, similar to Aero-Glass by default
  • Screenshot: mode to capture screen regions with the mouse
  • State: set default opacity and other options for types of windows
  • Trailfocus: unfocused windows fade with time
  • Mousegestures: advanced mouse gestures to control effect
  • Scripting: allows scripters to take advantage of compiz effects
  • Wallpaper: different wallpapers on different side of the 3D cube

  • blurfx: fully featured blur, motion blur, and reflection plugin, not operational to differences in the compiz beryl core
  • copacity: enables selective transparency for use with terminal windows

Compiz uses small programs called decorators which draw the window borders with the usual minimize, maximize and close buttons. Compiz provides two window decorators.

  • gtk-window-decorator uses either a basic cairo based rendering engine or can use metacity themes.
  • kde-window-decorator uses native KDE themes

Along with plugins, the Compiz community developers often release code patches for existing plugins when the feature does not warrant a plugin of its own; or when it utilizes many of the portions of an existing plugin. Code patches can then be sent to the mailing list for eventual inclusion in the main Compiz distribution. The community provides a valuable testing ground for new ideas.

Compiz is currently available in the following Linux distributions (either officially or through a third party):

If your distribution is not listed often packages can be found on the Compiz Forum

Compiz (Aiglx and XGL) can also be set up on almost any other GNU/Linux-based distribution if the code is compiled correctly; however, there is no support available for this and it is not a straight-forward procedure.

Main article: Beryl (window manager)

On September 19, 2006, an announcement was made on the Compiz.net (now Beryl-Project.org) forums stating that a community maintained tree of Compiz (Compiz-QuinnStorm) would be moved into a project called 'Beryl' (a fork of Compiz). This was due to personal preferences and technical differences between the Compiz and Beryl project developers.[4][5][6] Recently a merge of the two projects has been announced. It will have a new name, which is still undecided. [1]

Portal:Free software
 Free software Portal

  1. ^ a b Storm, Quinn. [beryl-dev Merge On (details still to be decided)]. Retrieved on March 23, 2007.
  2. ^ Carr, Robert. [beryl-dev Beryl and Compiz Merge: What's actually going on?]. Retrieved on March 25, 2007.
  3. ^ Laramie, Jeffrey. [compiz Compiz and Beryl are Reuniting]. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
  4. ^ Compiz.net forums - "Announcing the Beryl Project". Retrieved on September 19, 2006.
  5. ^ Compiz.net forums - Information on Beryl. Retrieved on September 19, 2006.
  6. ^ Results of a Conference Call "Here is what David Reveman says on the subject."

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